The Flash is not necessarily one of the most high-profile characters in superhero movies right now, but throughout the history of the DC hero there have been many onscreen representations that have delighted the fans over the years. That includes, of course, animated shows and movies, but this article will focus on the live actions and the incredible actors that have taken on the role in different years.
Each of the actors that have had the chance to portray the superhero have done their very best and left their mark on the character. Let’s go over them.
5 Rod Haase – Legends of the Superheroes (1979)
Long before the Avengers assembled for the first time there was Legends of the Superheroes. This television special gave the world the opportunity to see the first ever live action portrayal of The Flash, in this case played by actor Rod Haase. Barry Allen was just one of many superheroes that were a part of the two-part live-action event, with Adam West as Batman, Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, and more.
For his part, Rod Haase brought a breath of fresh air to his character. He played The Flash with youthful exuberance and highlighted his zest for life. Obviously, he did a great job bringing his superpowers to life, since as we all know his incredible speed is a huge part of his identity, but his work on the character as a person showed everyone Barry Allen’s warm-hearted and lighthearted personality. Rod also infused the role with a refreshing sense of humor, endearing him to the audience.
While Legends of the Superheroes is often overlooked, especially among the other more modern and expensive superhero movies and shows, for fans of the genre, it is regarded as a gem of its time. Rod Haase’s portrayal of The Flash left a lasting impression on both fans and people in the entertainment industry. The truth is that the character Rod brought to life, while not that appreciated overall, made the potential of bringing the Scarlet Speedster to life onscreen clear, so he kind of paved the way for every other live action that came after his.
4 John Wesley Shipp – The Flash (1990)
1990 was they year the first live-action television series of The Flash. Even though his character had appeared on another movie before, The Flash was a show dedicated entirely to this beloved superhero. And it was largely thanks to John Wesley Shipp. His portrayal of The Flash left a huge mark in the public, not just for his great acting skills but for his impressive charisma, attractive physique, and how genuinely excited he was about the role.
For many years following the end of the show, John’s name became synonymous with the hero. In this show, John Wesley Shipp, as Barry Allen, a forensic scientist in Central City, goes through a weird accident involving a lightning bolt and getting doused in pretty dangerous chemicals. Instead of dying, though, Barry gains superhuman speed, among with other impressive abilities, and that leads to him becoming a new superhero known as The Flash. The way John displayed the duality of Barry Allen’s character, brilliantly exposing his vulnerability while highlighting his newfound powers, is one of the many things that made him perfect for the role.
3 Kenny Johnston – Justice League of America (1997)
While Kenny Johnston’s role in the 1997 movie Justice League of America was not a huge part of the film, his interpretation really impressed viewers. This movie follows the life of the protagonist, Tori Olafsdotter. She is a meteorologist working at the Eno Meteorological Institute, and she doesn’t know it, but soon she will become DC’s superhero, Ice. This happens when the city of New Metro is faced with a tornado controlled by a terrorist called the Weatherman. Here, we see The Flash’s heroism when he swoops in to save the day. He dissipates the tornado using his super speed while the other superheroes save the citizens.
Meanwhile, Tori is hiding in the lab where she works and finds a strange device that intrigues her. Of course, her curiosity ends up being her downfall, and as she fiddles with she spills water on it. The device strikes her with blue electricity. She luckily isn’t harmed, but quickly notices the side effects when, as she walks home, she realizes she’s freezing everything she touches. Soon, she is recruited by the Justice League of America, since the tornado wasn’t the last the world would have to see of the Weatherman.
2 Grant Gustin – The Flash (2014)
With the incredible success of the superhero show Arrow, the idea for a spin-off almost came up naturally. And Grant Gustin was the perfect choice for The Flash. His captivating portrayal of Barry Allen has resonated with audiences, with his great mix of humor, vulnerability, and The Flash’s signature heroism he’s responsible for one of the best interpretations of the hero.
At the start of the series in season 1, Barry Allen, a crime-scene investigator, gains the Flash’s superpowers from the explosion of the S.T.A.R. Labs and becomes the vigilante that everyone knows and loves. His new powers mean he has a new role in the city: to fight criminals along the other metahumans he meets along the way.
As the show progresses the audience gets to see the growth of the character from a forensic scientist to full-time protector of the city. Grant expertly displays the complexities of the superhero, from his known optimism no matter the obstacle to his emotional depth and inner struggles.
Another great thing to witness is Grant’s enthralling chemistry with Candice Patton, the actress that plays Iris West, Barry’s best friend and love interest. Their on-screen connection is perfect in the way it portrays an evolving friendship and its transition to a love story.
The actor was very happy for the opportunity to take on this role, as it was something like a childhood dream. “I had always loved Barry Allen as a kid — and I guess in the back of my mind, the hope was to include him in some way in Arrow, but obviously we knew that would take our show into the realm of superpowers. We had to find a way to do it that worked in our creative reality, and in [the] time and the budget of a TV show.” However, despite the fact that world wanted to see more of him as The Flash for longer, he ended the show in season 9, and he was satisfied with the conclusion. “It just felt like time,” he explained. “A lot of people wanted us to get to 10 seasons, but in my mind we did 10 years — it was 2013 when I was cast as Barry Allen, and we finished in 2023. We had done everything we needed to do, the characters were in a good place, and we had reached the conclusion.”
1 Ezra Miller – The Flash (2023)
Before they were cast for the 2023 movie The Flash, Ezra Miller had already given the world a glimpse of their portrayal of the superhero. They had a few minor appearances in movies such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Justice League, but it wasn’t until the actual movie that they had a chance to really flesh out their character. The release of the film, however, wasn’t easy. It was surrounded by controversy regarding Ezra Miller’s behavior, as in a short period of time they were caught in the middle of some really violent acts. In 2020, a video surfaced showing Miller appearing to engage in an altercation with a fan. The video show the actor grabbing a woman by the throat and pushing her against a wall. Of course, this was met with outrage and raised concerns about his behavior.
The video quickly went viral, causing waves inside the entertainment industry and among fans. Miller’s actions were massively criticized and the incident once again brought up discussions about accountability and responsibility for actors in their public interactions.
While Miller issued an apology, expressing regret for their behavior and acknowledging the need for personal growth, they also said that they acted on instinct after getting fed up with a hoard of fans, which didn’t appease everyone. Later, in 2022, they were arrested in Hawaii for assaulting a couple of locals, which earned them a restraining order, and earlier this year, also in Hawaii, it happened again, when they assaulted a young woman.
Of course, all of this, added to the impact the pandemic has had in the film industry in general, has caused a strain in the production of the movie, and talks about the possible replacement of the protagonist caused even more delays and setbacks. In the end, though, everything went as planned. Let’s just hope the actor reflects on their wrongdoings and works on making amends.
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